Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pulled out of Ghana’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan due to an injury.
Initially named in Otto Addo’s 25-man squad, the 30-year-old was expected to take on the captaincy role in the absence of Andre Ayew, a position he has held in recent international matches.
Partey’s withdrawal follows a request from Arsenal for further medical assessments, necessitating his stay in London. The club expressed concerns about his fitness, prompting this precautionary decision.
Alongside Partey, three other players—Joseph Paintsil from LA Galaxy, Osman Ibrahim from Feyenoord, and Kingsley Schindler from Samsunspor—have also been ruled out due to injuries.
Paintsil is dealing with hamstring issues after LA Galaxy’s recent victory, with club doctors scheduling an MRI for October 7. Similarly, Ibrahim Osman sustained a hamstring injury over the weekend, while Schindler faced a medical emergency that prevented him from traveling to Accra.
In response, Coach Otto Addo has called up replacements to strengthen the squad ahead of these vital matches, including Michael Baidoo from IF Elfsborg, Abu Francis from Cercle Brugge, Jonas Adjetey, and Ibrahim Sadick.
With Partey unavailable, Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew is anticipated to step up as captain for the upcoming games.
The first leg of the doubleheader against Sudan will take place on Thursday, October 10, with the return leg set for October 14. Both matches are crucial for Ghana as they aim to recover from a slow start in the qualifiers.
